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Showing posts from July, 2026

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Child Has a Lump in the Neck? Swollen Glands Explained | London & Essex ENT

  Why Does My Child Have a Lump in Their Neck? A Parent’s Guide to Swollen Glands Discovering a lump in your child’s neck can be unsettling. You may notice it while washing their hair, fastening a school shirt or cuddling them at bedtime. Sometimes your child finds it first and says there is a small “ball” under the skin. One of the first questions parents understandably ask is: “Should I be worried?” Fortunately, the majority of neck lumps in children have a benign explanation , and swollen lymph nodes associated with infections are particularly common. NICE states that reactive cervical lymphadenopathy is the most likely cause of a neck lump in children. However, not every neck lump is simply a swollen gland. Its position, size, duration, whether it is painful and whether your child has other symptoms all matter. This guide explains common causes, what parents can monitor and when medical or paediatric ENT assessment is appropriate. What are the little glands in my child...

Child Keeps Turning TV Up? Hearing Advice London & Essex

  Why Does My Child Keep Asking for the Volume Louder? A Parent’s Guide to Hearing Concerns Many parents first notice a possible hearing problem in a very ordinary way: the television is too loud. Your child may keep turning up the TV, tablet or music. They may ask for films to be louder, hold devices close, say “what?” repeatedly, or seem not to hear when called from another room. It is easy to assume this is behaviour, a preference, or a habit. Sometimes it is. But in some children, asking for louder volume can be an early sign that they are not hearing clearly. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , assesses children with ear, hearing, and paediatric ENT concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford, and the wider Essex area. This guide explains why children may keep asking for the volume to be louder, when a hearing assessment is sensible, and what parents can do at home and at school. Is Loud Volume Always a Sign of Hearing Loss? No. S...

Child Travel Sickness & Motion Sensitivity | London & Essex

  Why Does My Child Get Travel Sick? A Parent’s Guide to Motion Sensitivity Travel sickness can turn a family journey into a stressful experience. A child may become pale, quiet, sweaty, dizzy, nauseous or suddenly vomit during a car journey, coach trip, ferry crossing, flight or theme-park ride. For some families, it happens occasionally. For others, every long drive becomes a challenge. Parents often ask: “Is this just normal travel sickness, or could there be something wrong with my child’s ears or balance system?” The reassuring answer is that travel sickness is common in children and is often manageable with practical steps. However, some children have symptoms that are more severe, persistent or associated with other problems such as dizziness, headaches, hearing symptoms or balance concerns. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , assesses children with ear, hearing and balance-related concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and...

Child Earache but No Infection? ENT Guide | London & Essex

  Why Does My Child Have Earache but No Ear Infection? A Parent’s Guide Earache is one of the most common reasons parents seek medical advice for children. It can be distressing, especially when your child is crying, not sleeping, refusing food or repeatedly pulling at one ear. Many parents naturally assume that earache means an ear infection. Sometimes it does. But not always. A child can have significant ear pain even when the eardrum looks normal, and there is no obvious middle-ear infection. This is because the ear shares nerve pathways with nearby areas including the throat, tonsils, teeth, jaw joint and neck. Pain from these areas can be “referred” to the ear. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with ear, hearing and paediatric ENT concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and wider Essex. This guide explains why earache can happen without an obvious ear infection, what parents should watch for, and when ENT as...

Child Dizziness & Balance Problems | ENT Guide London & Essex

  Why Is My Child Dizzy or Losing Their Balance? A Parent’s Guide to Balance Problems in Children When a child says they feel dizzy, parents often worry immediately. Some children describe the room spinning. Others say they feel wobbly, floaty, sick, light-headed or as if the floor is moving. Younger children may not use the word “dizzy” at all. Instead, parents may notice clumsiness, frequent falls, holding onto walls, refusing playground equipment or seeming unusually unsteady. Dizziness in children can have many causes. Some are linked to the ear and balance system. Others relate to migraine, dehydration, fainting tendency, vision, medication, anxiety, infection, neurological conditions or heart rhythm problems. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with ear, hearing and balance concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and wider Essex. This guide explains what dizziness may mean, when the ear may be involved, a...

Child Sensitive to Loud Noises? Causes & ENT Advice | Mr Gaurav Kumar

  Why Is My Child So Sensitive to Loud Sounds? A Paediatric ENT Guide for Parents As a parent, watching your child experience physical distress from sounds that others barely notice can be deeply unsettling. You might notice your child covering their ears, crying, or experiencing a flash of panic when the vacuum cleaner starts, when a public hand dryer activates, or when a dog barks nearby. When a child exhibits an intolerance to everyday noises, parents often wonder whether it is a behavioural phase, a sign of sensory processing differences, or a physical issue within the ears. In the medical community, this heightened, excessive sensitivity to everyday environmental sounds is known as hyperacusis . As a Consultant ENT Surgeon practising across London and Essex, I frequently meet families at my Brentwood and Ilford clinics who are seeking clarity on this exact issue. This comprehensive guide will help you understand how a child’s ears process sound, the structural and medi...